tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post4354304586271757593..comments2023-08-10T03:35:55.682-07:00Comments on The Prosers: On Writing, rules, and lifeSheena Boekweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-32796652671198205122012-04-01T13:09:44.869-07:002012-04-01T13:09:44.869-07:00I put off reading this because I knew it was going...I put off reading this because I knew it was going to make me sad. If I didn't read it write away, there would still be one more Sarah post waiting for me!<br /><br />But as we learned from Star Trek TNG (available on Netflix!), All Good Things Must Come to an End. But hopefully you too will defeat the evil time vortex and get lots of work done on your novel. :)<br /><br />Lots of love to you, and as I said in my email, come visit every once in a while. And keep in touch!<br /><br />(on dialogue tags: nothing makes me flinch as an editor like He exclaimed! She gasped! He grumbled! all in a row. Adverbs aren't so bad, if used sparingly).Sabrina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06218305456791199409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-30755211670755648672012-03-31T19:25:18.764-07:002012-03-31T19:25:18.764-07:00Thanks for the well wishes, everyone!
@MaryAnn, ...Thanks for the well wishes, everyone! <br /><br />@MaryAnn, I completely agree about the adverb, especially in a dialogue tag, being a show vs. tell issue (unless it's just plain redundant, which is a different case). I find it nearly impossible to come up with a decent example of when I think showing works better than telling, because it will always depend on the context and the writer's goal for the line in question. Which brings me to...<br /><br />@Sheena: Good advice. I love my purple adverb-laden prose on first write. When it comes to deciding whether to keep them, I think about my writing class in which the teacher declared that each adverb cost $20. If you like an adverb enough to put $20 in the class pot, then go for it. If it's not worth $20, it shouldn't be in there. <br /><br />@Melanie, of course we're cosmically connected. :)<br /><br />@Susan: Thank you for the vote of confidence! I have to say that writing a blog post and writing a novel feel about as related in skills as playing piano and ice skating. (At 36, I've given up hope of developing any sense of physical balance, but I'm still optimistic about my plotting and pacing intuition kicking in.) I will definitely keep you posted!Sarah McCanlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05692009969291537927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-27500897405167369982012-03-31T16:52:08.916-07:002012-03-31T16:52:08.916-07:00Thank you so much for your time here, Sarah. I hav...Thank you so much for your time here, Sarah. I have laughed and cried and ewwwed (the Ratatouille post, yes I'm looking at you) and thoroughly enjoyed every one of your posts. <br /><br />With your writing skill, your novel is going to be amazing. I hope you'll keep us posted on its progress. Thanks for being a part of the Prosers (you always will be one, you know!)Susan Buttarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14456005411871122298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-80908890015552484572012-03-31T11:48:29.974-07:002012-03-31T11:48:29.974-07:00Sarah,
Children really are the absolute most impo...Sarah,<br /><br />Children really are the absolute most important thing. Thank you for this reminder. I'm going to miss your terrific posts so much! Good luck with your novel. If you ever need a critique, I'd love to do it!<br /><br />In a crazy turn of events, the post I'm writing for today--if it ever gets finished (!) relies rather heavily on Stephen King as well. It's amazing how often this happens here on the Prosers, and the only explanation that makes sense is that we are all connected in some cosmic way that won't vanish just because you won't be posting for a while. :)<br />MelanieMelanie Crousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10353025724182677932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-44158391572603024472012-03-31T11:38:20.820-07:002012-03-31T11:38:20.820-07:00We're going to miss you, Sarah. Especially whe...We're going to miss you, Sarah. Especially when I read such an awesome post like this one, and realize how much we are losing with your departure. <br /><br />But that said, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE going out to you and your family and your novel(s).<br /><br />I agree about the adverbs. Sometimes the best word is the simplest, even if it breaks the rules. Even Steven King uses adverbs, on occasion. I do think thought that adverbs need to fight to be there. I think put in as many adverbs as you want to in the first draft, and then on edits, most of them can go, and it'll tighten up the writing, but a few absolutely can stay.<br /><br />I wish you could stay too, :)<br />~SheenaSheena Boekweghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-67275872995981167722012-03-31T10:17:42.198-07:002012-03-31T10:17:42.198-07:00Sarah that was beautiful, insightful, and funny. ...Sarah that was beautiful, insightful, and funny. All the reasons I'm going to miss your posts so much. <br /><br />But I understand the need to put the time into your novel. You are immensely talented, and I just know some day I'll be hunting you down for your autograph. I wish you the best.<br /><br />I hope you will lurk around and still share your brilliance in the comments, but still, you will be greatly missed. <br /><br />Thanks for all your awesome posts.<br /><br />Now on to adverbs. :)<br /><br />Adverb dialogue tags are telling, IMO. And telling is allowed at times. But "he said absently" is vague. Is he looking at something else or staring into space? Is he deep in thought or just not interested? Is he trying to watch the game or fingering his cell phone? All these things show us how and why he isn't really paying attention. <br /><br />But overall, I agree. Sometimes it is better to tell than to show.MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.com